UK raised death of ex-spy with Russia

LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) Britain has discussed the death of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko with Russia and told Moscow the matter is serious, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said today.

''We've obviously raised it and said that this is a serious matter,'' the spokeswoman said.

''This was discussed in the course of routine meetings with representatives of the Russian embassy,'' she added later.

The spokeswoman declined to comment further given the police investigation into Litvinenko's death.

British authorities said significant quantities of polonium 210, a radioactive isotope, had been found in the body of Litvinenko, who accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of his murder in a statement read out after his death.

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